Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes learned the hard way that soccer fans don't take kindly to NFL stars meddling in World Cup officiating debates. After the USMNT's dramatic Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mahomes tweeted a cryptic complaint about a controversial red card—and got absolutely roasted for it.
The incident happened in the 64th minute when USMNT striker Folarin Balogun was sent off after a VAR review for a rough challenge on Bosnia center-back Tarik Muharemovic. The decision sparked immediate outrage from USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino, who said, "For me, never is it a red card. Never was there intention to step on the player."
Mahomes, watching from home like millions of other American fans, jumped on social media with a simple but pointed message: "Man what……" The tweet seemed to question the referee's judgment, and it didn't take long for the internet to fire back.
"WHO is complaining about refs??" one fan replied, alluding to Mahomes' reputation for drawing favorable calls during his NFL career. Another wrote, "You're not supposed to complain about the refs for another 2 months," a dig at the upcoming NFL season. A third user called Mahomes a "flop merchant" and questioned his right to criticize officiating.
The backlash was swift and brutal. Even The Ringer's Spencer Hall chimed in, tweeting, "Every other American is allowed to speak." The implication was clear: Mahomes, despite being one of the most talented quarterbacks in NFL history, doesn't get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to complaining about referees.
While Mahomes' complaint may have been valid—many soccer pundits agreed the red card was harsh—the timing couldn't have been worse. The NFL star has often been accused of receiving favorable treatment from officials, and fans were quick to point out the irony. One fan summed it up perfectly: "Patrick Mahomes complaining (rightfully so) about a ticky tack call is objectively hilarious."
Meanwhile, the USMNT is dealing with the real consequences of Balogun's red card. FIFA confirmed that Balogun will miss the Round of 16 match against Belgium, though thankfully, they decided not to extend his suspension beyond that. The team is now looking to Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman and others to step up in his absence.
As for Mahomes, he might want to stick to tweeting about football—or at least wait until the NFL season starts before calling out World Cup referees.
